The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-03
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIvINE'S SUN
DAY SERMON.
Subject: Watering the Sheep"
preached at the Hamptons.
Long Island.)

TEXT: ave cannot, until all the focks be
gathered together, and till they roll the stone
from the 1celrs mouth; then we rater the
Meep"-Genes:s xxx, 5.
A scene in Mesopotamia beautifully pas
toral A well of water of great value in
that region. The fields around about it
white with three Aocks of sheep lying down
waiting for the watering hear their bleat-
ing coming on the bright air, and the laughter
Of young men and maidens indulging in
rustic repartee. look off and see other
docks of sheep coming. Meanwhile, Jacob,
stranger, on the interesting errand Of look
Ing for wife, comes to the we'll. A beauti-
full shepherdess comes to the same well. Isee
aock of sheep. 1t was a memorable
meeting Jacob married that shepherdess.
The Bible account of it is: Jacob
kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice
and wept" 1t has always been mystery
to me what he found to cry about. But be-
fore that scene occurred, Jacob accoSts the
shepherds and asks them why they postpone
why they did not Immediately proceed to
water them. The shepherds reply to the ef-
feet: ''INe are all good neighbors, and, as
matter of courtesy, we wait until all the
sheep of the neighborhood come up. Besides
that, this stone on the wells mouth is some
WQaC QedVy, ullu sever VI uS ISihc dOIu VI ~
and push it aside, and then the buckets and
the troughs are filled, and the sheep are salts
fed. We cannot, until all the fiockS are
gathered together, and till they roll the stone
from the wells mouth; then We water the
sheep"
Oh, this is thirsty world! Hot for the
head, and bl;ssering for the feet, and parch-
ing for the tongue. The worlds great want
is cool, refreshing, satisfying draught. We
wander around and we find the ciStern empty
Long and tedious drought has dried up the
worlds fountains but nearly nineteen CEN
turies ago. Shepherd, with crook in the
shape of cross and feet cut to the bleeding,
explored the desert passages OF this world,
and one day came across a well a thousand
feet Deep bubbling and bright and opal
escent, and looked to the north, and the
south. and the east, and the west, and cried
out with voice strong and musical that
rang through the ages: "Ho, every one that
thirsteth, come ye to the waters"
Now great flock of sheep to-day gather
around this Gospel we'll There are great
many thirsty souls. wonder why the focks
of all nations do not gather-why so many
stay thirsty; and while am wondering about
it, my text breaks forth in the explanation,
saying 1--WE cannot, until all the focks be
gathered together, and till they roll the stone
Srom the wells mouth: then we water the
sheep"
II a herd Of swine come to well they
.anerily justle each other for the precedence;
If drove Of cattle come to well, they hook
each other back from the water, but when a
flock OF sheep come, though hundred Of
them shall be disappointed, they only express
it by sad bleating; they come together peace
fully. We want q great multitude to
come around the Gospel we'll I know
there are those who do not like
q crowd-they thinl; crowd is vul-
gar. If they are oppressed for room in
church it makes them positively impatient
and belligerent. We have had people
permanetly leave our church because many
other people came to it. Not so did these
Oriental shepherds. They waited until all the
hocks were gathered, and the more docks
that came the better they liked it. And so
we ought to be anxious that all the people
should come. Go out into the highways and
the hedges and compel them to come
In. Go to the rich and tell them they
are INDECENT without the Gospel Of Jesus.
Go to the poor and tell them the
af1uence there is in Christ. Go to the blind
and tell them of the touch that gives eternal
illumination. Go to the lame and tell them
of the Joy that will make the lame man leap
like hart. Gather all the sheep off of all
the mountains. None so torn Of the dogs,
none so sick, none so worried, none so dying,
as to be omitted Why not gather great
hock2 All Brooklyn in flock; all New York
in q flock; all London i'll flock: all the world
IN a flock. This we'll Of the Gospel is deep
enough to put out the burning thirst OF the
twelve hundred million, OF the race. Do not
let the Church,by a spirit Of exclusive
ness, keep the world out. Let down
all the bars, swing open all the
gates scatter all the invitations: VINO,
soeyer will let him come" Come, white and
black Come, red men of the forest. Come,
Laplander, out Of the snow. Come. Patago-
MAN. out Of the heat Come in flrs. Come
painting under palm leaves. Come one. Come
all. Come now. As at this well Of Mesopo-
tamia, Jacob and Rachel were betrothed, so
this morning, at this well Of salvation, Christ
our Shepherd will meet you coming up with
your long flocks of cares and anxietieS, and
BE will stretch out his hand in pledge Of His
affection, while all heaven will cry out: "Be-
hold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to
meet him."
You notice that this we'll Of Mesopotamia
had stone on it, which must be removed be-
fore the sheep could be watered; and l find on
tbs well of salvation to-day impediments and
obstacles which must be removed in order
that you may obtain the refeShment and life
of this Gospel In your case the impeachment
Is pride Of heart. You cannot bear to come
to so democratic fountain; you do not want
to come with so many others. 1t is to you
ike when you are dry, coming to a town
pump, as compared to sitting in parlor sip
ping out of a chased chalice which has just
been lifted from silver salver. Not so
many publicans and sinners. You want to
get to heaven, but it must be in
special car, with your feet on a Turkish
ottoman and band of music on board the
train. You do not want to be in company
with rustic Jacob and Rachel, and to be
drinking out Of the fountain where ten thou
sand sheep have been drinking before you.
You will have to remove the obstacle Of pride,
or never 6nd your way to the well. You will
have to come as we came, willing to take
the water of eternal life in any way, and at
any hand, and in any kind of pitcher, crying
out: "Oh Lord Jesus. am dying of thirst.
Give me the water of eternal life, whether in
trough or goblet; give me the water OF
eternal life; care not in what it comes to
me-" Away with all your hindrances OF
pride from the Wells mouth.
Here is another man who is kept back from
this water of life by the stone of an obdurate
heart, which lies over the mouth of the we'll
You have no more feeling upon this subject
than if God had yet to do you the first kind
ness, or you had to do God the first wrong.
Seated on his lap all these years, His ever
lasting arms sheltering you, where is your
gratitude! Where is your morning and even
ing prayers Where are your consecrated
livesi say to you as Daniel said to Bel
shazzar: "The God in whose hand thy breath
Is, and all thy way, thou has not gloritied."
II you treated anybody as badly as you have
treated God, you would have made tivs hum
dred apologieS-yea, your whole life would
have been an apology. Three times day you
nave been seated at Gods table. Spring sum-
mer autumn and winter he has appropriately
appareled you. Your health from Him, your
companion from Him, your children from
Him, your home from him; all the bright sur
roundings of your life from Him. man,
what dost thou with that hard hearts Canst
thou not feel one throb Of gratitude toward